Translation lookaside buffer for guest physical addresses in a virtual machine

Abstract

Embodiments of an invention for a guest-physical address translation lookaside buffer are disclosed. In an embodiment, a processor includes an instruction decoder, a control register, and memory address translation hardware. The instruction decoder is to receive an instruction to transfer control of the processor to guest software to execute on a virtual machine. The virtual machine is to have a plurality of resources to be controlled by a virtual machine monitor. The virtual machine monitor is to execute on a host machine having a host-physical memory to be accessed using a plurality of host-physical addresses. The plurality of resources is to include a guest-physical memory. The guest software is to access the guest-physical memory using a plurality of guest-virtual addresses. The control register is to store a pointer to a plurality of virtual address page tables. The memory address translation hardware is to translate, without causing a virtual machine exit, guest-virtual addresses to host-physical addresses using the plurality of virtual address page tables and a plurality of extended page tables. The memory address translation hardware includes a virtual address translation lookaside buffer in which to store a plurality of virtual address entries corresponding to guest-virtual address to host-physical address translations. The memory address translation hardware also includes a guest-physical address translation lookaside buffer in which to store a plurality of guest-physical address entries corresponding to guest-physical address to host-physical address translations.

Description

BACKGROUND[0001]Virtualization enables a single host machine with hardware and software support for virtualization to present multiple abstractions of the host, such that the underlying hardware of the host machine appears as one or more independently operating virtual machines. Each virtual machine may therefore function as a self-contained platform. Often, virtualization technology is used to allow multiple guest operating systems and / or other guest software to coexist and execute apparently simultaneously and apparently independently on multiple virtual machines while actually physically executing on the same hardware platform. A virtual machine may mimic the hardware of the host machine or alternatively present a different hardware abstraction altogether.[0002]Virtualization systems may include a virtual machine monitor (VMM) which controls the host machine. The VMM provides guest software operating in a virtual machine with a set of resources (e.g., processors, memory, input / ou...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent text describes a technology called virtualization, which allows a host machine to present multiple virtual machines that can run simultaneously and independently on the host. The virtualization is achieved through a virtual machine monitor that controls the host machine. The virtual machine monitor provides a set of resources for the virtual machines and manages the use of memory. The virtualization system uses a page table to map memory locations to physical pages in the host machine. The technical effect of this technology is that it simplifies the management of guest software in a virtual machine environment by controlling system software.

Problems solved by technology

Handling memory management actions taken by guest software executing in a virtual machine creates complexity for controlling system software such as a virtual machine monitor.

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